USS Electra (AKA-4)
_underway_in_the_1950s.jpg) USS Electra (AKA-4)
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| History | |
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 United States | |
| Name | USS Electra |
| Namesake | Electra, a star in the Pleiades star cluster in the constellation Taurus |
| Builder | Tampa Shipbuilding Company, Tampa, Florida |
| Laid down | as MV Meteor |
| Launched | 18 November 1941 |
| Acquired | 16 April 1941 |
| Commissioned | 17 March 1942, as USS Electra (AK-21) |
| Decommissioned | 19 March 1946 |
| Reclassified | AKA-4 (attack cargo ship), 1 February 1943 |
| Recommissioned | 3 May 1952 |
| Decommissioned | 13 May 1955 |
| Honours and awards | 6 battle stars (World War II) |
| Fate | Sold for scrap, 7 June 1974 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | attack cargo ship |
| Type | Type C2 ship |
| Displacement | 14,225 long tons (14,453 t) |
| Length | 459 ft 1 in (139.93 m) |
| Beam | 63 ft (19 m) |
| Draft | 20 ft 1 in (6.12 m) |
| Speed | 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) |
| Complement | 267 |
| Armament |
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USS Electra (AKA-4) was an
attack cargo ship named after Electra, a star in the Pleiades star cluster in the constellation Taurus
. She served as a commissioned ship for seven years.
Electra (AK-21) was launched 18 November 1941 as Meteor by Tampa Shipbuilding Co., Tampa, Fla., under a
Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. C. O. Andrews, wife of the Senator from Florida; transferred to the Navy 16 April 1941; and commissioned
17 March 1942. She was reclassified AKA-4, 1 February 1943.
Service history
World War II
After a fast voyage from
Charleston
30 April 1943.
Following an overhaul and permanent repairs, Electra carried out amphibious training in
Eniwetok where she supplied boats and equipment for the initial landings 18 February. After unloading the remainder of her cargo, Electra returned to Pearl Harbor
8 March.
In June 1944, Electra served in the
Babelthuap to divert attention from the main landings on Peleliu. Two days later she was engaged as control boat for the initial assault on Angaur
, remaining there to unload cargo until the 23d.
After a brief respite at
Leyte, 20 October 1944, sailing 2 days later for the Palaus. She lifted troops from Guam for support landings on 23 November, then sailed to Hollandia, New Guinea, to prepare for the next invasion. On 9 January 1945, Electra arrived at Lingayen Gulf, Luzon for the initial assault, made under air attack, and successfully offloaded her troops and cargo by the 17th. She returned to New Guinea briefly to embark Army troops for transfer to support operations at Mindoro, then sailed to Ulithi
, arriving 19 February.
On 18 March 1945, Electra arrived off
Wakayama and Hiro Wan from Pearl Harbor and the Philippines
, then embarked returning veterans for the States, arriving at San Francisco 10 November 1945. She was placed out of commission in reserve 19 March 1946, and returned to the Maritime Commission 1 July 1946.
Korea
Reacquired from the Maritime Commission 16 October 1951 as a result of the
Icy Cape on the 21st. Electra furnished provisions, fuel, and water to other ships in the force, as well as unloading cargo for northern bases. She returned to San Diego 2 September, and except for a supply mission to the Pribilof Islands from 10 July to 7 September 1954, Electra continued training and upkeep along the west coast until placed out of commission in reserve again 13 May 1955. Electra was sold for scrap on 7 June 1974 to Van Komodo International Inc.[1]
Electra received six battle stars for World War II service.
References
- This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
External links
- Photo gallery of USS Electra (AK-21/AKA-4) at NavSource Naval History
- USS Electra web site
- Military.com: USS Electra
- 51 Years of AKAs
 United States Navy | |
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 Peruvian Navy |
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